49ers notes: Team gets roster exemption for Jerome Simpson

SANTA CLARA -- The 49ers have received a one-week roster exemption for wide receiver Jerome Simpson, who has completed his six-week suspension. The exemption allows Simpson to practice with the 49ers this week before they decide whether to carve out for him on their 53-man roster.

Simpson was suspended in August, his third NFL-issued suspension in four years, for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. That decision stemmed from a July 2014 arrest when he was with the Vikings.

Simpson has been allowed to work out and attend meetings during his suspension. However, he’s not been allowed to take part in practices. The 49ers currently have five receivers on their active roster: Anquan Boldin, Torrey Smith, Quinton Patton, Bruce Ellington and rookie DeAndrew White.

“I will say, has just absolutely attacked everything we’ve asked him to do,” Tomsula said of Simpson last week. “He’s allowed to go to meetings. He’s allowed to work out. He comes in early and works out. Everything he’s allowed to do, he’s done and he’s done it full bore.”

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Another, rookie DeAndre Smelter, is on the non-football injury list after suffering an ACL tear as a college player in November.

Other notes:

* Tomsula said the 49ers don’t have a tight end controversy despite Garrett Celek, not Vernon Davis, starting Sunday. “Vernon’s coming off a leg (injury) and we’re trying to make sure we monitor that,” he said. “No controversy.”

* Tomsula said he was “very optimistic” about Reggie Bush after discussing the veteran’s calf injury with trainers. Bush has missed the last game and a half after his problematic calf muscle tightened on him against the Giants.

* NaVorro Bowman played all 77 snaps Sunday after Tomsula said the inside linebackers rep count would be monitored. “They’re high,” he said of Bowman’s snaps. “We’ve got to get them down.”